WhatsUpJayTee Direct Care Staff Training

Texas Administrative Code, copied from DADS Texas  (information purposes only) TITLE 40 SOCIAL SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE PART 1 DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES CHAPTER 72 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH OTHER STATE AGENCIES SUBCHAPTER B MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING CONCERNING COORDINATION OF SERVICES TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES RULE §72.205     Texas Rehabilitation Commission (a) Direct service responsibilities to persons with disabilities. (1) Vocational Rehabilitation Program. (A) This program prepares eligible individuals with disabilities for employment. Services include evaluations to determine vocational, educational, medical, and psychological abilities and needs; limited vocationally necessary medical treatment; training in trade schools, business colleges, rehabilitation centers, halfway houses, colleges, and universities; interpreter services for the deaf; job placement and assistance to employers in modifying jobs for persons wi...

Many people have difficulty swallowing whole tablets or capsules or need a dosage less than one tablet in size. Crushing tablets, emptying capsules or cutting tablets is commonly done and is acceptable for many medications.          Many tablets are scored (have an indented line across them) which allows them to be broken with the fingers easily. Cutting tablets which are not scored is most easily accomplished with a tablet cutter. There are also many medications which cannot be cut or crushed. In general,  any medication which is extended release, sustained release, sustained action, slow release, time release, delayed release, repeat action, or enteric coated should not be cut or crushed, but there are exceptions.     When there are problems with a form of medication, it is best to call the pharmacy for clarification . Never just assume it is acceptable to cut or crush a  medication. Many medications come in liquid forms which...

Medications can break down if not stored properly. Medications also affect body function and can be harmful if not taken properly or if taken by someone other than the person for whom they were prescribed. There are three important factors which must be met when storing medication: environmental conditions, security/access, and convenience. Medications are chemicals. Like all chemicals they may undergo chemical reactions or breakdown thus deactivating the drug. Conditions which promote chemical decomposition of most drugs include heat, moisture, light, air and time. How much each of these factors affects a medication depends on the specific chemical. Therefore, most medications should be stored in a cool (room temperature), dry, and dark place, unless otherwise directed. The bathroom medicine cabinet is the worst place to store medication as it tends to be the moistest and warmest place in the house. The kitchen is likewise not an ideal  storage place as it is also quite warm and...

SEIZURE DISORDERS (EPILEPSY) The brain contains billions of nerve cells that create and receive electrical impulses. Neurons  (nerve cells) communicate through these electrical impulses. When there is abnormal and excessive  electrical activity in the brain, a seizure occurs. This  causes an altered level of awareness, changes in behavior, and/or muscle contractions and movements typically seen during a seizure. Characteristics of  seizures depend on location and path of electrical discharges. Generally this activity only lasts for seconds to minutes.   TYPES OF SEIZURES Seizures have many forms depending upon the type and cause. Symptoms can be mild or severe. Seizures are classified according to the patient’s appearance or behavior during the seizure and the pattern of electrical activity in the brain, as measured by an electroencephalogram (EEG).    It is difficult, even for trained physicians, to classify seizures based on what someone looks li...

Safety Program (click here for initial site, subject to change) This post will just get you a better breakdown on where to find the requirements. Each provider with a facility must design and maintain a safety program that ensures continuing attention to the health and safety of DBS staff members, consumers, and the visiting public. The plan must include: quarterly fire drills emergency evacuation procedures; other , In times of emergency, the State of Texas collects and makes available information needed to address the safety and security of its citizens and their property. United States Department of Labor , How to plan Workplace emergencies and evacuations. Texas Department of Public Safety , State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) - Public; Do you or anyone you know need some assistance during times of an emergency event? The state of Texas presents the STEAR program. The STEAR program is a free registry that provides local emergency planners and ...

Safety and Sanitation Hand washing should be done before and after each contact with a client, and between each different route of medication administration. Steps to follow include: Collect soap (avoid bar soap if possible), paper towels, and a trash basket. Turn the water on and adjust the temperature to warm. Wet hands up to wrists. Apply soap using enough to create a good lather. Spread soap to back and front of hands up to wrists, being sure to reach under nails. Use firm rubbing and circular movements to wash the palms, back of hands, and wrists. Keep rubbing while rotating fingers through each other up to your wrists for 15-30 seconds (about the amount of time it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song). Rinse hands, avoiding contact with the sink and the faucet area. Allow the water to run downward from the wrist area when rinsing. Dry hands with paper towels and use the towels to turn the faucet off. Keep the area used to prepare medications clean! Cle...

Responding To Medication Refusals For adults who are disabled or need constant care, group homes offer the around the clock care necessary while providing a sense of community. However, like nursing homes and other long term care facilities, residents in group homes are susceptible to dangers like neglect, abuse, and medication errors. Experts don’t believe the reporting rate is accurate. Medication errors at group homes are completely self-reported, meaning group homes could be grossly underreporting medication errors. Unlike in other long term care facilities, employees at group homes go through significantly less training regarding the administration of medication. Many group homes employ “direct care providers” who do not have any medical training. Direct care providers are only required to pass a three-day course before employment. Group homes choose to employ direct care providers to administer medication rather than registered nurses because it is much less costly. Th...